James Durga, NCOA, kicks for the extra point in the second half against Co. A, 84th Chem. Bn. Sept. 27.

Story and photos by Matt DeckerAssistant editor
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Five weeks into Fort Leonard Wood’s 2018 flag-football season, several teams were still struggling with penalties and setbacks. However, the Noncommissioned Officer Academy was one team that proved the power of staying on-point when such difficulties arise, earning a 13-6 win over the Company A, 84th Chemical Battalion team Sept. 27 at Gerlach Field.

“They were very competitive, but we came out, and I think we played harder,” said NCOA defensive back Nick Beavers, who had two interceptions in the second half.

Alex Pagel, NCOA, holds out the ball as he approaches the end zone in the second half. Pagel scored on the play.

Wide receiver Alex Pagel scored both of NCOA’s touchdowns, the first coming on a 17-yard pass from quarterback Thomary Winslow midway through the first half. Pagel ran in his second TD of the night from about three yards out after catching a short pass from Winslow early in the second half.

Pagel appeared to be injured on the final play of the game, when he and three other players attempted to catch a long pass from Co. A., 84th Chem. Bn. quarterback George Allen, which was ultimately intercepted by NCOA player James Durga.

“Honestly, he (Pagel) was the MVP of the game and made the key plays down the stretch,” Beavers said. “Obviously the team came out here ready to execute. We had a few new members added to the team, so we wanted to make sure everyone was in synch. Our quarterback executed greatly.”

The Co. A, 84th Chem. Bn. team scored late in the first half on a 10-yard pass from Allen to wide receiver Rasheen Jennings.

It was the first touchdown since the first week of the season for the Co. A, 84th Chem. Bn., which had struggled on offense the previous week.

Still, Jennings, who is also the Co. A, 84th Chem. Bn. coach, said the season has been a fun one so far for his players, some of whom had little or no previous football experience. The team’s roster is almost exclusively made up of students in the Chemical Basic Officer Leaders Course, he said.

“Most of our players are actually in school right now,” Jennings said before the game. “I was in the Reserves for four years, so I played at Fort Jackson before coming here, and I knew they had intramural sports. So, once I got to Fort Leonard Wood (four months ago), I tried to get into it and get some others who wanted to play to come out, too. Half of us had never played football before.”

Likewise, Beavers expressed his appreciation for having the intramural program available to service members, calling it, “phenomenal.”

“It creates fun; it creates competition,” he said. “It’s an incentive to come out here and compete, especially when you have guys who are former players. I hope we get more teams to come out, because I want to see it have some longevity. I think that would be awesome.”